New downtown York post office opens with 'everything but the floor'

The new location of the York City post office is still a work in progress, but customers said they're learning to adjust.

"I went to the other post office for more than 50 years, but I think I'll be OK once I find my way around," said Mike Hyslop, a 67-year-old city resident.

Hyslop spent his adult life going to the 102-year-old office at 200 S. George St., which closed Saturday.

The U.S. Postal Service could no longer afford or fill the space of the 68,000-square-foot landmark, said spokesman Ray Daiutolo.

During the weekend, the office was relocated to two vacant properties at 152-162 W. Market St.

The 3,600-square-foot post office opened Monday and had a busy morning, said postal supervisor Kelly Greene.

"It's been hectic as we change everything over, but so far we've been OK," she said.

Greene spent part of the morning helping local residents access their post office boxes, testing keys and retrieving mail.

"Most people have been able to keep their same box numbers. Only a few have changed," she said.

Work in progress: As a crew continued to remodel the new space, Greene said the post office was nearly ready.

"We have everything but the floor," she said, pointing to subflooring.

The new floor should be finished by the end of the week, Greene said.

Jerimyeah Dunbar, 27, stopped in to mail a document and said it took her a minute to figure out where everything was.

"It's definitely different, but really it's just a post office in a different building than before," she said.

"It's nice and looks new," she added.

Location: Nestled between the Junior League of York and Chinatown Express Chinese restaurant, the West Market Street post office is an easier commute for 52-year-old city resident Felicia Johns.

"I'm dealing with (multiple sclerosis), and sometimes it was hard for me to get in and out of that big, old building," she said. "Everything is nice and level here."

Plans for the move were first announced earlier this year.

During the last couple of years, the Postal Service has been working to fill a $15.9 billion budget deficit, reducing the size of its workforce by 28 percent, consolidating 200 mail processing locations and cutting back hours at several post offices across the country - including 12 in York County.

What will become of the former South George Street post office is unknown.

Local developer Themi Sacarellos previously described himself as the buyer of the property, which had been listed for $800,000.

Last week he declined comment about his plans for the property, and Daiutolo said the Postal Service can't comment until the purchase is finalized.